Wider Than The Sky features workshops with locally and nationally renowned poets, readings, book signings, and an open mic for young writers. The event is free and open to all LA-area students; complimentary transportation is available for public and charter school groups.

Festival Mission

Wider Than The Sky celebrates the power of poetry to express, connect, and transform lives.

The festival is part of Harvard-Westlake’s commitment to equity and inclusivity; to purpose beyond ourselves; and to service to our Los Angeles community.

All Los Angeles high school students are welcome at the festival; our outreach focus is on students from LAUSD schools, and on underserved communities and populations throughout our city. Wider Than The Sky is made possible by Harvard-Westlake donors.

History

Founded in 2014; looking to the future.

2014

Wider Than The Sky was inaugurated in the fall of 2014; the first festival featured keynote speakers Douglas Kearny and Sharan Strange.

2016

The second festival, in April 2016, featured keynote speaker Jacqueline Woodson and workshop leaders including Janice Lee, Ashaki Jackson, Steven Reigns, and Harvard-Westlake alum Teddy Macker. Hundreds of students attended, including nearly 200 students from LAUSD high schools.

2017

Wider Than The Sky 2017 featured keynote speaker Claudia Rankine, workshops led by renowned poets from around the country, and an evening reading with Rankine.

2018

Wider Than The Sky 2018 featured keynote speaker Richard Blanco, acclaimed poet, and Kaveh Akbar, founder of Divedapper, and many others. Blanco gave a public reading at The Last Bookstore in downtown Los Angeles.

2019

Wider Than The Sky 2019 will keynote speakers from The Dark Noise Collective. More details to follow soon.